Rayford Barnes

Rayford Barnes (October 23, 1920 – November 11, 2000) was an American film and TV character actor from Whitesboro, Texas.[1][2]

Rayford Barnes
Barnes (left) with his brother Lou, c. 1983
Born(1920-10-23)October 23, 1920
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 2000(2000-11-11) (aged 80)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting placeCalifornia
Years active1952–1997
Spouse(s)Bette Powelson (1950–1954)
Debra Barnes
(m. 1973)
RelativesBinnie Barnes (aunt)[1]

Early years

Barnes was born in Dallas, Texas, and attended the University of Texas. He acted in plays at the university and at little theaters in Dallas and San Antonio. After he moved to Oakland, California, he performed at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.[3]

He had a younger brother, Lou Dupont, who was also an entertainer.

During World War II, Barnes served 4+1⁄2 years in the Navy, working as a navigator.[3]

Career

Barnes worked as a disc jockey at radio stations KTSA and WOAI.[3]

After his military service, Barnes was a stagehand at three theaters in the San Francisco area, and he developed "a healthy respect for all the items actors depend upon for support ..."[3]

In 1950, Barnes gained membership in Actors Equity and began to act on stage in Repertory Theater productions, including Three's a Family and Hasty Heart. He also worked off-stage there, creating staging and scenes for two other plays.[3]

Barnes appeared in films, mainly westerns, such as Hondo, The Burning Hills, Fort Massacre, The Wild Bunch, The Hunting Party, and Cahill U.S. Marshal. He also appeared in the 1955 comedy Bowery to Bagdad.

Barnes also appeared on dozens of TV series most notably The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp in which he portrayed Ike Clanton.[1] Other series he appeared on include Father Knows Best, Bat Masterson, Highway Patrol, Racket Squad, The Untouchables, Cheyenne, Maverick, Have Gun - Will Travel, Cannon (episode "Call Unicorn), The Twilight Zone (episode "A Quality of Mercy", with Albert Salmi and Ralph Votrian),[4] The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, The High Chaparral, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, Fantasy Island, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Walker, Texas Ranger. His final role was on the NBC medical drama ER in 1996.

Personal life

In 1950, Barnes married Betty, and the next year they had a son.[3]

Barnes lived in Manhattan Beach, California, with his long-time companion, Debbie. He often spoke about his movie making experiences with John Wayne, for whom he had great admiration.

Death

Barnes died in Santa Monica[5] or Manhattan Beach, California, on November 11, 2000, at age 80.

Selected filmography

References
  1. Lentz, Harris (June 2001). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2000. McFarland. p. 16. ISBN 9780786410248 – via Google Books.
  2. Landesman, Fred (July 11, 2007). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 148. ISBN 9780786432523 – via Google Books.
  3. Loeb, Theresa (August 12, 1951). "Oaklander Doubles in Brass". Oakland Tribune. p. B 3. Retrieved August 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Parisi, Nicholas (October 24, 2018). Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination. University Press of Mississippi. p. 256. ISBN 9781496819451 – via Google Books.
  5. Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 43. ISBN 9781476625997 – via Google Books.
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